How this year’s B.C. wildfire season compares to previous years
August 10, 2021 by Jason ContantIt looks like this year’s wildfire season in British Columbia could be one for the record books. Between Apr. 1 and Aug. 9 of this year, the province saw 1,456 wildfires and nearly 650,000 hectares of area burned. This compares…
Wildfire devastates community of Monte Lake in B.C.’s southern Interior
August 6, 2021 The Canadian PressMONTE LAKE, B.C. – Another British Columbia community has been devastated by a raging wildfire and more could be at risk from a blaze in the southern Interior between Kamloops and Vernon. Ken Gillis, chairman of the Thompson-Nicola Regional District,…
The claims impact of the B.C. wildfires
August 5, 2021 by Jason ContantWildfires raging across British Columbia have resulted in a lot of additional living expenses (ALE) claims, a property restoration firm told Canadian Underwriter Wednesday. “There’s just a lot of increases on the ALE [claims],” Shane Swinson, senior vice president, insurance…
Ontario seeing more and larger wildfires this year, officials say
July 26, 2021 Allison Jones - THE CANADIAN PRESSThe number and size of wildfires in northern Ontario this year are substantially higher than average, and have forced thousands of people to flee First Nations communities, the government said Monday. This year there have been 902 wildfires so far,…
Ontario imposes restrictions on industrial operations in northwest as wildfires burn
July 20, 2021 The Canadian PressNORTHWESTERN ONTARIO – Ontario is imposing new restrictions on the mining, rail, construction and transportation industries in the province’s northwest to reduce the likelihood of human-caused fires. The move comes as 107 active wildfires burn in the region, with 32…
Wildfire in Lytton, B.C. a ‘wake-up call’ to take precautions: safety board
July 15, 2021 Camille Bains - THE CANADIAN PRESSA wildfire in Lytton, B.C., during historically high temperatures points to a serious need to prevent similar occurrences, says the chairwoman of the Transportation Safety Board, which is investigating the possibility that a freight train could have been linked to…
Saskatchewan crews ‘fully engaged’ fighting more than 100 wildfires
July 14, 2021 The Canadian PressProvincial fire crews in Saskatchewan are now fighting more than 100 wildfires in the province. The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency says hot, dry weather forecast for the rest of the week, along with scattered storms producing lightning, is going to…
Regulator orders risk reduction measures for B.C. railways following Lytton fire
July 13, 2021 by Jason ContantFollowing record heat and a wildfire that burned down about 90% of the village of Lytton, B.C., Canada’s transportation regulator has ordered fire monitoring, suppression, and risk reduction measures for railways to protect against wildfire “in the context of extreme…
First Nations seek emergency declaration from province over northern Ontario wildfires
July 13, 2021 The Canadian PressTHUNDER BAY, Ont. – An organization representing 49 First Nations in northern Ontario is urging the province to declare a state of emergency over wildfires that it says are threatening several remote communities. The Nishnawbe Aski Nation says the declaration…
B.C. premier says he will lobby PM to enlist military for wildfire prevention duty
July 9, 2021 Dirk Meissner, The Canadian PressCOQUITLAM, B.C. — British Columbia Premier John Horgan says he will lobby Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to deploy Canada’s military to help clear fire danger zones to prevent future wildfires. Trudeau and Horgan met Thursday with local government and First…
Lightning sparks new fires as thunderstorms add to danger in B.C.’s Interior
July 6, 2021 The Canadian PressLYTTON, B.C. — The BC Wildfire Service says 212 wildfires are burning in British Columbia as lightning storms swept over several areas of the province. The wildfire service website shows more than three dozen small fires have been sparked across…
Evacuation alerts issued for areas near two out-of-control wildfires in B.C. Interior
June 30, 2021 The Canadian PressThe B.C. Wildfire Service is dealing with two out-of-control blazes in the Interior that have prompted evacuation alerts. The McKay Creek fire was discovered Tuesday burning about 23 kilometres north of Lillooet, and has grown to approximately 50 square kilometres…